Furnace



H. E. LEETY ET AL Noy...15, 1932.

FURNACE Filed May 11, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS I a Nov. 15, 1932.H. E. LEETY ETAL FURNACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1926 INVENTOR 5M M, 11w? Nov. 15, 1932. H. E. LEETY ETAL FURNACE Fil ed May 11, 1926 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 -.1',ss1,sss

U D ST T S PATENTOFFICEI HARRY E. LEETY AND JOHN A. ECKERT, PITTSBURGH,AND AUSTIN VL IPAGE, OF 'PENN TOWNSHIPQALLEGHENY" COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,'ASSIGNORS TO I. WALL MANUFACTURING 'C01.1ANY,'OE PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA particularly to burners ofthis type which are ordinarily designated blow torches or .furnaces, andespecially suitable for use limited in'this respect.

by linemen, plumbers and the like where portable heating unitscapable'of operation under adverse circumstances are required, althoughthe utility of the invention is not Throughout the specification andclaims, apparatus of the general'character herein contemplated will bedescribed by the general term furnaces, it being understood that theword is used as one of definition and not limitation, and is genericallydefinitive of a general class of apparatus. I

At the present time a number of different kinds of furnaces is availablefor performing the general functions herein contemplated. Such furnaces,however, have been objectionable for many reasons, most of which areconcernedchiefly with the question of efiiciency, the question of easeof operation, adjustment and repair, and the question of safety. a Asordinarily constructed, furnaces of this general'nature have not beengenerally capable of use in unfavorable weather or high wind conditions.The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of afurnace which may be efficiently used under such conditions, theinvention contemplating among other things a restricted air supply ascompared to that ordinarily permitted, and means for preheating thesupplied'air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved'burnerof suchnature that complete mixing of the fuel and air occurs in thelower part of the burner,

thereby enabling higher temperatures to be obtainedby the burner, whichhigher temperatures are desirable not only 'from' the standpoint of thematerial being heated by the furnace but from the standpointof fuelvaporization, and more particularly'in cold weather.

lVith furnaces of usual construction,-the temperature conditions duringoperation have been such as to result in undue heating 7 nature that-theassembling operation is facilclaims.

I FURNACE 1926. Serial No. 108,283.

of the fuel reservoir, whereby bulging and explosions not infrequentlyresult. 7 Thepres: ent invention contemplates improved, heat dissipatingmeans intermediate between the burner and reservoirwhereby thetemperature of the reservoir-can be-maintained; within'a much lowerrange. I Y

Another object of the invention is tolpro- Vide a valve and burnerassembly of such it ated and possibility of stripping threads is lminimized. r V

- Still, another object of. the invention is to provide areservoir ofimproved construction whereby the strength thereof is increased, thepossibility of bulging is eliminated and the chances of rupture orbursting limited to a predetermined zone or zones. Further objects ofthe invention are to provide an improved-pump construction and operatingmeans therefor whereby operation of the pump is facilitated and thelength of life thereof increased. f

Still further objects are to provide a furnace construction in whichaccess tothe parts for repair. replacement or adjustment is facilitated.j r 1 I Other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and drawings constituting a part thereof, thedrawings showing for purposes of illustration only, certainpreferredembodiments of the invention, it being understood that the drawings donot define the limits of our inventionas changesin a construction andoperation 'disclosedtherein may, be made without departing either. fromthe spirit of the invention-0r the scope of our broader In the drawings:m V Figure l is a side elevational view of one form of furnaceconstructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 isflavertical sectional view through a furnace constructed as shown in Fi ure1, certain of the parts being shown in elevation or partly broken awayfor sake of clearness; s

Figure .3 is a detail sectional. View, onan enlarged scale, through aportion of the valve and burner assembly; I

Figure 4; is a side elevational view of the Figure 5 is a detail viewpartly broken away of a portion of the pump cylinder showing the clevisin position thereon;

Figure 6 is adetail sectional view on an enlarged scale, illustratingone ofthe fastening means for the furnace guard;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a top plan View of the heat dissipator;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view on the line IXIX of Figure 2looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view onan enlarged scale through aportion of the reservoir. 7 i

In accordance with the present invention, there may be provided afurnace having a reservoir 2 adapted to contain a predetermined supplyof fuel and forming a base for effectively supporting the furnace. The

reservoir is preferably of novel construction with respect not only tothe material from which it is constructed but with respect to thecontour thereof. This reservoir preferably comprises an upper portion 3comprising a single sheet of metal, the metal preferably being, orhaving the characteristics of drawn steel with a relatively low carboncontent. The bottom 4, on the other hand,

i is preferably constructed of spring steel havin'gia much higher carboncontent, the carbon content of the bottom ordinarily being many timesgreater than that of the top.

w The contour initially imparted to the plates from which the reservoiris constructed is preferably substantially that which parts of thedimensions generally indicated and of the characteristics described,will tend to assume; under high pressure conditions within thereservoir. This con tour is conveniently initially determined byconstructing a reservoir of the desired metal and-then creating apressure therein sufficient to produce a slight bulging. This contour isthen measured, and a second reservoir constructed having such contour-The .pressure is then increased in this second reservoir 'to such anextent as to produce a bulging, and the contour again measured and areservoir constructed. This operation is repeated until there isprovided a reservoir having a contour conforming to the contour whichthe reservoir tends to assume under abnormal pressure conditions. Wehave found that such a reservoir has materially greater strength than areservoir the construction and curvature of which are arbit'rarilyproduced.

The bottom 4, in accordance with the presentinvention ispreferablyshaped'to provide in a downturned flange 7 embraced within the upturnededge 8 of the top plate of the reservoir. In actual practice, we havefound that a reservoirof the general characteristics set forth will, inthe event of extremely high pressure, tend to rupture substantially inthe zone of the straight portion 5. This 7 is by far preferable tohaving the reservoir rupture through the upper portion thereof, inasmuchas this results in throwing the fuel downwardly away from the burner,witha corresponding decrease in the possibility of a serious explosion.

Eccentricallyformed in the top of the reservoir is an opening into whichis secured an internally threaded bushing 9 adapted to receive thelower'threaded end 10of the valve body 11. This lower threaded end-isalso preferably internally threaded to receive a fuel feeding tube'12 asunderstood in the art.

The tube, 12 discharges fuel into a port '13 intersecting a laterallyextending passage 14. This passage is shaped to constitute a seatfor'the conical end 15 of the controlling valve 16. Extending upwardlyfrom the passage 14 is a second port 1 7 controlling-the delivery offuel to the lower end of a burnertube 18. This burner tube mayconveniently be threaded directly into an extension. 19 on thevalve'body, the lower threaded :end preferably being tapered to providea tight joint while permitting a slight turn in either direction toproperly position the burner.

'We have found it to be desirable to construct the valve body in theform of a brass forging d'ue'to the homogeneous nature thereof. Inorder, however, to reinforce this forging, and. particularly the portion1.9 receiving the lower end of .the burner tube, there-is threadedthereon a reinforcing sleeve 20 ofcold rolled steel or other desiredmaterial.

This reinforcing sleeve at its upper end has an internal diameterpreferably substantially equal tobut slightly greater than the externaldiameter of the burner tube, whereby with the reinforcing sleeve inposition on the projection 19 itelfectively serves notv only asa'reinforcing means-but as a'guidingmeans .for guiding the burner :tubeaccurately into engagement with the threads in the projection 19.Conveniently the projection 19 has its upper edge :21 downwardly andinwardly beveled as clearly apparent from Figure?) of the drawings forassisting in the guiding and engagement of the-threads on the respectiveparts. In thismanne'r stripping or splitting of the threadsandspl-itting ofthe projection 19 dueto the taper of the threads on theburner is prevented. f

The reinforcing sleeve 20 is preferably provided with an'outturnedflange 22 at its lower end forming a shoulder adaptedto support aheat-dissipating plate'23. This plate, as indicated in Figure 8 of thedrawings, is preferably of generally circular contour havingeccentrically .formed therein'an opening 24 of a diameter permittingcooperation with the sleeve 20 and consequent movement of the-plate 23downwardlythereover into engagement with the shoulder 22. This platethroughout substantially its entire areais formed with openings 25preferably irregularly arranged relative to the contour of the.dissipator as illustrated for-example inFigure 8 of the drawings.

After the dissipator has been properly p0 sitioned, a spacing sleeve 26isslipped over the reinforcing sleeve and a saucer 27 positioned aroundthereinforcing sleeve in such manner as to rest on the spacer. Thissaucer preferably has a diameter substantially equal to thediameterofthe dissipator 23 and has an upturned peripheral edge 28 whereby itserves to collect foreign matter and prevent the same from dropping ontothe upper surface of the reservoir. This is particularly desirable inthe case of burning fuel or other inflammable material which, ifpermitted to reach the reservoir and burn thereon, might result in unduetemperature conditions, as well as suflicient heat to ignite vapor inthe reservoir with a resulting bulging or bursting thereof. Theintermediateportions of the saucer 27 are preferably reinforced by meansof a rib or corrugation 29.

The burner itself is conveniently constructed substantially as disclosedin the patent to Flitcroft No. 1,283,133 of October 29, 19l8, in thatthere is provided a casing 30 supported by the tube and preferably casttherearound and carrying an inlet 31.' The outlet nipple 32 of theburner tube is, however, located a greater distance from the inlet 31than disclosed in the Flitcroft patent. The casing 30 has openings30"therein toadmit air to the burner. In the drawings, the burner partsare shown substantially one-half full size, thereby providing a distancebetween the burner nipple and the inlet 31 which is great enough topermit complete mixing of the fuel in the lower part of the casing 30 ina manner not obtainable with the Flitcroft burner as constructed. Thisenables the creation of a higher temperature at the outlet of the burnerand a better vaporization of the fuel in the burner tube. Surroundingthe upper end of the casing 30 and extendingaround a substantial portionof the casing is a removable air preheating bell- 33.

Secured in any desired manner to the top of the-reservoir 2 is a bearingbracket 34 having bearings therein for a pintle 35 extending throughopenings in lugs 36 carried by the lower end of a guard and flue 37.This guard and flue at its lower edge. is slotted, as ind1- V cated indotted lines in Figure 2, to provide a recess 38 to accommodate thevalve stern 16 when the guard and flue is swung into and out ofoperative position about the pintle 35. At its front side the guard andflue car dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. This hood tends to protectthe'melting pot or other articles mounted on the plate. To accommodatethe plate toarticles of'difl'erent'shapes and contours, as well assize,it may be provided with stepped supports 44, these supports be I ingeffective for not only centering the pot but for preventing slipping ortilting thereof. I Formed in the top plate 41 substantially centrallythereof so as to overlie the burner is an opening 45 having a diameterwhich is preferably substantially equal to the eX- ternal diameter ofthe upper portion of the casing 30 whereby the passage of excess airinto the guard and flue 37 is prevented. Surrounding the central opening45 is a series of comparativelysmall openingsti' and 47, theseopenings,providing the necessary draft for operation under normal conditions andbeing small enough to prevent any disturbance with the operatingconditions, in the event ofyextreme blasts of cold air having.

atendency to travel downwardly in oppositiou'to the natural draft, andthereby unduly chill thecasingto an extent sufficient to interfere withvaporization and proper burner operation. It will be'appar'ent thatshould any air pass downwardly through the series of openings 46 it willcome'into contact with the air preheating bell 33 kept heated by flamesemanating from the openings 33 whereby its temperature is materiallyraised to such an extent as to prevent interference with vaporization.

For maintaining the guard and flue in position on the reservoir toprevent accidental swinging movement thereof, it may be provided withany desired number of clips't8 iaving a pivotal connection 49 with theguard, and slotted to pass around bolts 50 carrying clamping meanspreferably in the forin'of wing nuts 51. In' order to'prevent loss ofthe wing nuts the bolts 50 may be drilled and retaining means 52inserted through the openings. When it is desired to swing the guard andflue to-inoperative position, the wing nuts may be loosened, the'clipsswung away from the bolts by means of the thumb pieces 53, and the guardandflue moved as desired. With.the combined guard'and flueimpositionythe furnace is ready'for use, or

may be rcarriedfrom point to. point by means 1' of a .bail 54: carriedby suitable-trunnions 55 onthe top plate. Y i

The reservoir may have the usual filling opening closedby azdrop forgedsteel filler plug-56 and may also be provided with a pump57 having: ageneral construction dis-' closed in Flitcroft Patent 1,030,465 of June-25,1912. Conveniently, however,'the pump cylinder has-mounted therein a.piston rod- 57, the upper end of which carries an operatinghandle 58extending laterally wherebyit may be conveniently gripped by anoperator. For holding the parts normally in a position illustrated infull lines in Figures 1 and-2, there may beprovided a clevis 59 carryinga coiled spring 60 adapted to cooperate with-a-depression 61 in thehandle. The clevis isconveniently carriedv by trunnions 62 formedintegrally with the pump forging which carriesthe pump cylinder andprojecting laterally therefrom. These trun: nions are preferablyinternally threaded to receive screws 63 preventing theclevis fromaccidentally becoming disengaged from the.

trunnions-,"while permitting removal and replacement of thecleviswhendesired. The" upper end of the pump forgingis preferably externallythreaded to cooperate with a main nut 64 adapted to receive a secondarynut 65 threaded thereinto and removable independ ently thereof. Thissecondary-nut is pref.-

erably extended into the pump cylinder, as shown, to providea guidingandwearing; duringxopextension 66 for the piston rod 57 eration ofth'epump.V

Heretofore, considerable difficulty has been experienced in attemptingtoswing tL'hOlCl." ing clevis of the general type shown herein intoinoperative position to permit operation of the pump. In accordancewiththepresent-inventlon such operation 1s facilitated by shaping thehandle 58 so that it not only err-- tends laterally but also upwardlyasclearly shown in the drawings. lVhen so constructed, the act ofswinging-the handle from its full line position in either direction,.asindicated in dotted lines, will tend :to cam off the clevis andautomatically throw it to inoperative position. At the same time, the

handle will be brought around to such a posit.

a plurality of openings irregularly'positioned1 with respect to thecontour of the plate is extremely important and insures asbetteroperation than can be obtained in a construction in which the openingsare regularly arranged or in which the plate h'asa peripheraledge orborder of regular or uniform characteristics. definitely determine thereasonsfor such improved operation, it is believed that the irregulararrangement of openings more elfeG- tively breaks up and distributesthelimited amount of air which passes to the interior: of

the combined guard and flue-37, through the recess 38, through the spacebelow the door 39, and below thecombined guardnand flue 37 at suchpoints at which tight contactawiththetop of the reservoir is not made.

It-will be-understood that in'starting, the burner in operation itis-customary to cause a body offuel-to accumulate within the drip.cup-67. Not infrequently this; fuel is per-- mittcd to accumulate to apoint substantially even with the top of thecup, and occasionally thecup. is permitted to overflow. In such" cases, when the fuel is-ignitedthe resulting expansion or boiling of'thefuel causes it to furtheroverrun theedges of the. drip-cup. Thepossi-bility of an accumulation offuel under. these'conditions-on the top ofa reser-- voir ispreventedbyreason of thesaucer 27. The heat generated, however, if directlytransmitted to the'reservoir might'produce a: temperature therein whichwould be objeo tionablyyhigh. The dissipatoreffectively cooperates withthe'bu'rner parts to directly dissipate heat therefrom, not only byreason. of the large radiating surface provided, but by reasonfurtherofthe intimate contact between the various portions thereof and theentering air. It also prevents the existence of a comparatively stillbody of air below 'the saucer capable of conducting heat downwardlytherefrom.

An apparatus'of the character herein con-, templated must-be capable ofoperation without adjustmentiin weather and wind conditions of alldiiferentkinds-and degrees.- The heat dissipator is an important-factortin-insurin'g such operation, as it, to a'considerable extent, breaks upthe draft which would normally be produced by the combined flue'andguard and effects delivery of air in broken up condition only,andlargely preheated to the burner. 1

Certain features of the present invention, and'more particularly rtheswinging guard and flue structure, are disclosed and claimed in ourc-opending: application, Serial No. 48,97 8, filed AugustS, 1925, inwhich there is also claimed the provision of aqsaucer and drip cupintermediate-the-burner and reservoir. The present applicationconstitutes a continuation in part of such-oopendingaps plication. f v

VVhile'we have not been able to;

Certain advantages of the present invention arise-from the improvedreservoir construction and contour whereby greater strength and safetyare insured. 7

Other advantages of the invention arise from the improved burnerconstruction in which mixing is completed in the lower portion of theburner casing, and from the pro vision of heat dissipating meansintermediate the burner and reservoir and preferably provided inaddition to the safetysaucer.

Still other advantages arise from the improved top plate constructionwhereby the air supply is controlled, broken up and preheated; I

Further advantages of the invention arise from the improved valve andburner assembly and from the improved pump structure in which increasedbearing surface is provided and in which the pump handle is effectivefor caming off the clevis.

We claim:

1. In a furnace, an enclosed fuel reservoir, a burner, fuel feedingconnections between said burner and reservoir, a reinforced shield forsaid burner, and heat'dissipating means carried'by said connectionsintermediate said shield and reservoir for dissipating heat from saidconnections, said heat dissipating means being perforated, said heatdissipating means being pos1t1oned exter orly of said reservoir. 2. Inafurnace, a fuel reservoir, a fuel valve carried thereby, a burnerhaving a threaded connection with said valve, a reinforclng sleeve forsaid burner carried by said valve intermediate sald threaded connectionand said burner, and heat dissipating means intermediate the burner andthe reservoir, said heat dissipating means being carried by andsupported on said reinforcing sleeve.

. 3. In a furnace, a fuel reservoir, a fuel valve carried thereby, aburner threaded directly to said valve, and a reinforcing sleeve forsaid burner surrounding a portion of said valve, sald sleeve serving toreinforce the valve.

4;. In a furnace, a fuel reservo1r, a burner, connections for dehvermgfuel from the reservoir to theburner, a drip cup carried by saidconnections, a collecting'saucercarried by said connections, and heatdissipating means intermediate the reservoir and said saucer.

5. In a furnace, a fuel reservoir, a burner, connections for deliveringfuel from the reservoir to the burner, a drip cup carried by saidconnections, a collecting saucer carried by said connections, and heatdissipating means intermediate the reservoir and said saucer, said heatdissipating, means being said connections, a collecting saucer carriedby said connections, and heat dissipatin means intermediate thereservoir and sai saucer, said heat dissipating means comprising aperforated disk through which air for said burner is adapted to pass. v

7 In a furnace, a burner, .a guard enclosing said burner and having aplurality of openings therein above the burner, and a removable baflleof bell-shape carried by said said burner, said top having aplurality'of draft openings therein, and a baflie of substantiallybell-shape carried bythe burner,

the skirt of the baffle extending below and frameports disposed in aringtherearound, v a cylindrical guard having a top enclosing from theopenings in the top of'the c linder above the burner from striking saidurner.

In testimony whereof wehave hereunto set our hands. I

. HARRY E. LEETY.

JOHN A. ECKERT; 1 AUSTINW. PAGE.

perforated to distribute incoming air over substantially the entire areaof said saucer.

6. In a furnace, a fuel reservoir, a burner, connections for deliveringfuel from the reservoir to the burner, a drip cup carried by

